Switching fuels. Very few European countries promote the switching of fuels by subsidies programmes. These schemes correspond to national problems (reduction of electricity consumption in Denmark; stopping of the nuclear program in Sweden), generally to replace electric heating systems by district heating grid (so, these schemes have a strong link with the chapter below) : In Denmark, the Government subsidises the conversion of heating systems in old houses to district heating to reduce the energy consumption. Financial support is granted for the installation (to a maximum of 50% of the expenses) of district heating in old houses (i.e. houses built before 1950). The scheme runs until 2002. In 1996, 15.3 million € were granted42. 39 In East-Germany: Fördergesetz gemäß dem Steueränderungsgesetz 1991 vom 24.06.1991 und dem Standortsicherungsgesetz vom 13.09.1993 40 From 1993 a new subsidy program was started for dwellings. For new-built single- or multi-family buildings the subsidy is in a form of a tax-deduction. For renovation the subsidy is lower than for new production. This “ROT”-deduction is a reduction of the tax with up to 30% of the labour costs, maximum 1 204 € per dwelling and it is planned to end after 1998. Also for owner-occupied dwellings in multi-family buildings there is a tax-deduction of 30% but the maximum amount is 574 €. 41 Eigenheimzulage für Niedrigenergiehäuser 42 Institute of Local Government Studies (AFK) – Denmark – Existing Policy Instruments in Denmark – 1998. Also, the Electricity Saving Trust (Elsparefonden), a new subsidy for dwellings and public sector institutions, is aiming to convert the heating system in dwellings situated in areas with district heating. This subsidy is not limited in time. The budget is approximately 6.7 million €. The trust expects to be involved in the conversion of the energy supply to 50,000 houses from electricity to district heating or natural gas. This conversion is expected to take 10 years from 199843. From 1998, in Sweden there are subsidies to reduce the use of electricity for heating (it has been decided that the nuclear power production be phased out in the year 2010) and to promote the transition to other energy sources. There are in total 189 million € in the five-year program for dwellings. There are three parts of the subsidy programme for: • reducing the power of the use of electricity, • changing from electricity heating to individual heating plant, • converting from electricity heating to district hea...
